A new Scotland-wide competition for aspiring junior golfers has been launched culminating in a grand final at St Andrews Links.
Scottish Golf and St Andrews Links Trust have joined forces to launch the Road to the Home of Golf, an event for youngsters aged 18 and under with handicaps between 8.5 and 54.
The aim of this event is to put the emphasis on fun and development – filling a gap in play for youngsters with mid-to-high handicaps by offering a pathway to competitive golf and a prized visit to the Home of Golf for the grand final. Providing access to aspirational experiences at early stages supports not only retention in the game but helps feed a healthy pipeline of golfers into the pathway from club to regional and national levels.
The Road to the Home of Golf represents a natural progression from Skills Challenges, Flag Events and the popular GolfSixes League format that already form key elements of Scottish Golf’s National Junior Framework. The Framework provides a structure to drive junior participation with a record 175 clubs across Scotland delivering the programme in 2025.
Junior golfers, both male and female, can enter a qualifying event at their local club with 102 golfers (51 golfers in each handicap category) ultimately being invited to a final in St Andrews. To ensure the event is accessible to a wide range of junior golfers, there will be two handicap categories with golfers between 8.5 – 19.4 playing their final on the Eden Course and golfers from 19.5 to 54 playing on the Strathtyrum Course.
Scottish Golf and St Andrews Links Trust are also committed to breaking down barriers to play. With that in mind, clubs the length and breadth of the country are encouraged to participate with financial support on offer for any youngsters requiring significant travel to attend the final. This has been included as part of the overall five-figure tournament budget underwritten by the Links Trust.
All affiliated clubs that engage with Scottish Golf’s National Junior Framework are eligible to compete in the Road to the Home of Golf. Any clubs wishing to take part should register an interest through the Scottish Golf website before March 31st and host a club qualifier before August 17th.
A national leaderboard will then be created with 102 players invited to play in the finals over the Eden and Strathtyrum Courses at St Andrews comprising a practice round on October 17th and the final on October 18th.
Robbie Clyde, CEO of Scottish Golf said: “This event represents an extremely positive step forward for our National Junior Framework and the programmes within it. The Framework provides fun and structured events and competitions for juniors across Scotland. However beyond this, our role is to ensure programmes provide positive environments and experiences in golf that support and enhance junior development.
“The Road to the Home of Golf Final in October will provide a player experience to remember for those who qualify, rewarding and recognising their achievement. Clubs hosting qualifying events are also adding age and ability appropriate competitive events to their junior programme calendar which further strengthens the role of the National Junior Framework within the player pathway in Scotland.
“This event gives junior golfers involved in our development programmes an incredible opportunity to be part of a unique development-level experience at the Home of Golf, thanks to our evolving partnership with St Andrews Links Trust.”
Neil Coulson, Chief Executive of St Andrews Links Trust, said: “Scotland’s junior golfers are the future of the game, and at the Home of Golf we believe we have a responsibility not just to provide playing opportunities, but competitive opportunities for youngsters to support them thrive in the sport.
“Working alongside Scottish Golf to develop the Road to the Home of Golf has enabled us to create a unique competition which ensures geography and costs of travel will not stop any young golfer from taking part.
“We are incredibly proud of the work which has already been done and we are looking forward to hosting the first annual competition later this year. I would encourage all eligible junior golfers at affiliated clubs to enter. The Road to the Home of Golf will be a great opportunity to play, but also to meet others and build friendships across the sport.”
